Reap What You Sow

"Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap." ~ Galatians 6:7

Most of the time, when people quote this scripture, they usually refer to major events in one's life. If we do something to wrong our brother, then we will be wronged in some way. If we use, abuse, and manipulate others, then we will be used, abused, and manipulated in return.

But in God's view, the principle of reaping what you sow applies in all cases - big or little, large or small, major or minor.

Thus, it is important to be careful of what you do in all situations. Everything's connected and what you might consider to be a little thing or a small misstep may just prove to be a hindrance to you receiving the blessing that God has for you.

So, as you go throughout life, remember that everything is connected.

How you act in one situation has an effect on the outcome of another.

God bless,

J.W.

Hide and Seek

"But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him." ~ Hebrews 11:6

This scripture tells us that God wants to reward us.

However, there is a condition.

In order to receive His reward, we must diligently seek Him.

That means we must be in pursuit of His ways.

We must hunt for Him.

We must actively search for Him.

But the key word in this passage is not "reward" or "seek."

It's "DILIGENTLY."

Many of us who say that we love God only seek after Him when we need Him or when it's convenient for us.

But to diligently seek for someone means to search tirelessly in all possible places for him, until you find him.

It's not that God is hidden from us, so that we must seek Him out to have a relationship with Him.

Rather, it's that He wants to know we have a heart for Him.

So, do you?

How can He tell?

The best way to show your heart is to diligently seek after His advice and counsel.

God bless,

James

Waiting

"Delight yourself also in the LORD, and He shall give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass." ~ Psalm 37:4-5

June of this year will mark the second anniversary of the beginning of Journal Your Journey.

Throughout my time writing these messages, many have written to me to express how much JYJ has been a blessing to them.

While I’m definitely appreciative and grateful that my messages have served to touch so many, if I am being honest, for the past two years, I have written my messages with only one person in mind – myself.

Not in any sort of selfish way.

No, rather, I’ve used this journal to preach to myself, to help me get through some tough times, to help me stay sane, and to give me strength and inspire me as I went through the travails of life.

You see, sometimes you just have to preach to yourself. When no one else is around, when no one else understands, you’ve got to feed your own soul. And that’s what this blog has been to me. Every message is a message that God has told me, for my situation specifically.

But here’s the amazing part.

The fact that it has touched so many other people’s lives is a testament to how awesome God is. He can take just a few words and have them apply to so many situations. He’s truly amazing!

For the past few months, I have been fasting and praying about something in particular in my life.

You see, God showed me what the end result would be, but many times, the circumstances I found myself in didn’t match up to what He told me.

As a result, all those messages about talking to God as a friend and trusting Him no matter what was for me as I was going through my situation.

Well, yesterday, after months of praying and waiting, it finally came to pass.

What God showed me finally happened.

And while it didn’t happen when I wanted it to and in the timeframe that I set, it happened!

More importantly, it happened when it was supposed to happen.

I tell you this, not to brag or boast, but to encourage you.

If there’s something in your life that you’ve been waiting for, be encouraged.

If God said it would happen, it will happen.

But it will only happen in His time, when He deems it right.

You see, while you wait, there are some things He’s working out in you.

More importantly, there are some things He wants to see in you.

Yes, God is watching you to see how you react.

Everything is connected, so make sure your response to your circumstance is in line with how God would want you to respond. Otherwise, you will delay your promise.

God only gives to people who are ready to receive.

So prepare yourself to receive today.

God bless,
J.W.

Change We Can Believe In

Throughout the course of human existence, we have developed so many methods to make changes in our lives.

For instance, we go on diets to change our body weight.

We go to school to get better jobs.

We read self-help books to live better lives.

We make new year’s resolutions to achieve new goals.

We budget our money to change our finances.

We vote for Presidents to change our country's direction.

We even go back to church to change our spiritual lives.

But do you know the best way to make change happen in your life?

Matthew 6:33 – Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these other things will be added unto you.

Start with God and the rest will follow.

God bless,
J.W.

Stand Up

"Let the redeemed of the Lord say so..." ~ Psalm 107:2

You were born to be a leader.

You may not be in business.

You may not have fame and fortune, riches and glory.

But God has called you to be a leader.

To be the head and not the tail.

Above and not beneath.

Stand up and accept your role as one of God's leaders today.

God bless,

J.W.

Free Gift (Part II): Heart of the Matter

“But the LORD said to Samuel, ‘Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the LORD sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart.’” ~ 1 Samuel 16:7

The other day, my mom asked me a question.

If a saved person commits suicide, is that person still saved?

We can give all types of reasons why that person may not be saved, but in the end, none of it matters.

All that matters is what’s in his or her heart.

According to the Bible, if that person believed in his or her heart and confessed with his or her mouth that Jesus is Lord, that person is saved.

We may try to impose other criteria for his salvation, but none of it counts.

For we are not his judge.

And we did not die to save his sins.

God bless,
J.W.

Free Gift

“If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” ~ Romans 10:9-10

A lot of times, we make salvation hard.

We convince people that if they do this, this, and this, they will be saved.

Likewise, if they do that, that, and that, they will not.

But salvation isn’t a reward you earn.

It’s a gift you accept.

Accept this gift today and you can live eternally.

God bless,
J.W.